The LSU men's basketball team needs all the games it can get to try to improve in time for the start of SEC play.

That's a big reason behind the LSU Invitational, a five-team, round-robin event spread over the next two weekends at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

The invitational begins at 4:30 p.m. Thursday as Troy (0-2) and Centenary (0-2) square off looking for their first win of the season.

The nightcap of the opening day finds LSU (1-0) and Alcorn State (0-2) meeting at 7 p.m.
 
Each team is guaranteed four games in the event, which do not count against their season total but do count in terms of wins and losses. Northwestern State (1-1) is the other team in the field, and the Demons will make their invitational debut Friday.

Friday's schedule includes Alcorn vs. Troy at 1:30 p.m., followed by Northwestern State and Centenary. The invitational's first weekend concludes Sunday as LSU and Northwestern State meet in a single game at 2 p.m.

LSU will play Centenary on Nov. 28 and Troy on Nov. 30.
 
All LSU games will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network (New Country 100.7 FM in Baton Rouge). Tickets for Thursday's doubleheader and Sunday's single game are available online at LSUsports.net starting for $5. Friday's admission when LSU does not play is free.

Tickets will be on sale Thursday and Sunday at the PMAC ticket windows on the upper ramp.

The Tigers come into the game off a season-opening 79-65 win over Jackson State on Saturday, their first game under new coach Trent Johnson.

Sophomore point guard Bo Spencer had a career-high 21 points in the game, while redshirt junior Chris Tasmin Mitchell - playing his first game since his injury in the third game of the 2007-08 season - and senior Chris Johnson had 17 each.
 
Johnson hopes to see more intensity from his players in Thursday's game than he saw in the Jackson State opener.
 
"I was disappointed, and I know they were probably more so than I in terms of our lack of energy in the Jackson State game, but considering it was our first game and expectations on their behalf, it's probably something you would expect at this time of year," Johnson said.

"It's something that I really don't dwell on in terms of the expectations as opposed to us playing the game the right way and competing.

"It's like I told them: we went over against Tulane and New Orleans and played them in game-like conditions plus two 10-minute quarters and competed really hard. All of a sudden, we come back over here and turn the lights on.

"It's got to be a habit to where you compete regardless of who's in the stands. Thursday, hopefully there is some carry over because I do believe this basketball team will play like they practice, and hopefully, they understand that now."
 
Alcorn State lost at Houston on Tuesday, 110-55, after losing to South Alabama in the team's opener. The team is averaging nine 3-pointers made a game, shooting almost 40 percent from the arc, but struggling in over all field goal percentage and shooting under 50 percent at the free throw stripe.

Alcorn is under the direction of first-year coach Larry Smith, a former longtime star in the NBA, a two-time SWAC Player of the Year at Alcorn and a long-time assistant coach in the NBA and WNBA.
 
"Alcorn State is a very competitive, very quick team, and if they're anything like their coach, Larry Smith - I know the type of player he was - so we'll have to be ready to play because they will be very competitive."
 
The Alcorn State game is the second of eight-consecutive home games to open LSU's 100th anniversary men's basketball season.

As part of the game, all full-time LSU students in attendance will resume Maravich Maniac t-shirts and all fans are invited to visit the Fan Zone for an LSU schedule magnet for men's basketball.

The game will also kick off a set of games that will involve contests involving LSU fraternities and sororities with several prizes for the most participation during the course of the six random games.  Several Greek organizations will take part Thursday night in a Word Scramble at halftime of the LSU-Alcorn State game with the winning group receiving a $250 gift certificate to Pluckers restaurant.